Release notes template

You push an update live, and immediately, the problems start. Users flood support with tickets about broken features, marketing scrambles to rewrite messaging, and stakeholders demand to know what actually changed. A release note template provides a structured space to log updates, communicate fixes, and ensure everyone is aware of what has shipped.

By capturing new features, enhancements, and bug fixes in one workflow, you replace docs and spreadsheets with a repeatable system. Teams use it on every release date to document what matters most, whether that’s a quick patch or a major product launch. With a consistent format, you inform stakeholders, help end users adopt new functionality, and streamline your release management process.

Who benefits from release notes templates?

A software company once launched a new product without a structured way to communicate updates. Developers kept changes in GitHub commits, marketing tried to summarize them in blog posts, and support teams fielded angry calls from users who felt blindsided. Without consistent release notes, even strong new features felt confusing instead of exciting.

If you need to communicate software changes, a release notes template helps you do it consistently and professionally.

Product managers

You use a product release note template to summarize updates for stakeholders, covering everything from new features to known issues. The same template also coordinates product management, engineering, and marketing teams by keeping updates in one place.

Developers

You use a software release note template to log technical details like API changes, version numbers, or bug fixes. The structured format keeps release management in sync and makes technical updates easier to track across teams.

Customer support teams

You turn technical updates into plain language so end users know what changed and how it affects them. A release note template for software helps you resolve tickets faster and guide users to tutorials with accurate context.

Marketing teams

You use release notes to highlight product enhancements, “What’s new” updates, and in-app notifications. The notes also act as a product marketing tool, supporting campaigns and helping customers adopt new features.

Why use Asana’s release notes template?

A growing SaaS company replaced changelogs and static docs with Asana’s release notes template. They instantly reduced confusion by logging updates in one place and providing stakeholders with a single view of product progress.

With Asana, your release notes template turns into an organized workflow. You set up tasks for each release, include headings or bullet points for new features and bug fixes, and monitor progress in real time.

Benefits of using a release note template for software include:

• Document every release with consistent formatting.

• Log new features, bug fixes, and enhancements in one project.

• Add release dates, owners, and version numbers to each entry.

• Automate reminders so release notes get written every sprint.

• Share updates instantly with stakeholders, end users, or customers.

How to use this release notes template

Using a release note template helps you communicate product updates in a consistent, transparent, and easy-to-follow manner. Instead of scrambling to piece together updates across docs, emails, or Jira tickets, you organize everything in one structured workflow.

You can assign owners, set due dates, and make sure every detail reaches the right audience on time. The template eliminates the guesswork of writing release notes, allowing you to spend less energy gathering information and more energy delivering meaningful optimizations.

1. Record release information

Start each cycle by entering the basics: version number, release date, and platform. Add an assignee to own the documentation process and mark the impact level so everyone understands the importance of the release.

You also want to update the documentation status and feedback channel fields. Doing this ensures your team knows whether the notes are ready to share, and stakeholders know exactly where to submit input or questions.

2. Highlight new features

Use this section to describe new functionality or significant changes. Assign tasks to the product or marketing team to draft the descriptions, gather visuals, and confirm accuracy. Include visuals or GIFs so end users can see changes before trying them.

Providing thoughtful detail here helps end users understand the value of the update. You set the tone for adoption by framing the new features as solutions to real user needs.

3. Document improvements and enhancements

Record refinements or more minor usability updates. Add the scope of the improvement, note which platform it affects, and assign someone to confirm that it works as expected. Enhancements may include speed improvements, design tweaks, or accessibility upgrades.

By capturing these changes, you demonstrate to stakeholders that you are not only shipping major features but also continually optimizing the user experience in everyday ways. Documenting improvements builds confidence in your product development process.

4. Track bug fixes

Log fixes with version numbers and link them back to any related tickets in Jira or GitHub. Assign QA or engineering team members to confirm when they resolve bugs. If a visual helps clarify the fix, add it so users can see the difference.

Including bug fixes in your release notes helps reassure end users that you take their feedback seriously. It also closes the loop for customer support, reducing duplicate reports.

5. Note known issues

Be upfront about unresolved problems. Use this section to explain the scope of the issue, note which platforms are affected, and document any available workarounds. Assign an owner so progress does not stall.

Transparency about known issues saves your support team time and earns trust from users. People appreciate it when you acknowledge problems openly instead of leaving them to guess what went wrong.

6. Share upgrade instructions

Provide step-by-step notes that guide end users through any setup or installation requirements. Assign tasks to technical writers or support specialists to make sure instructions are accurate and easy to follow.

Upgrade instructions reduce the friction of adopting the latest release. By preparing users in advance, you improve their overall experience and reduce the risk of mistakes or confusion.

Asana documentation features for your template

Features in Asana turn release notes into a structured workflow that you can repeat every sprint or launch cycle. Explore the complete list of features for even more inspiration.

Project views

Project views let you switch between list, calendar, and timeline formats. You see which notes are in draft, which are in review, and which are published. Switching views makes it easy to catch bottlenecks and keep the workflow moving.

Custom fields

Custom fields track details like version number, update type, impact level, and documentation status. You filter by these fields to group similar updates, like bug fixes or enhancements. Filtering helps stakeholders find what they need without having to sort through lengthy lists.

Recurring tasks

Recurring tasks remind you to create release notes every sprint or release cycle. You save time and avoid forgetting more minor updates that still matter to users. Automation ensures consistent release communication, even when the team is busy.

AI summaries

AI generates summaries of release notes for newsletters, “What’s new” pages, or internal updates. You turn long technical lists into user-friendly highlights in seconds. AI saves time for product managers and makes updates easier to share across channels.

Workflows

Workflows connect each stage, from drafting to publishing. Rules assign tasks, notify reviewers, and update fields automatically. You streamline collaboration so nothing falls through the cracks.

Recommended integrations for your release notes template

Integrations connect your release notes with the tools developers and product teams already use. You keep updates synced across systems, reducing the manual work of copying information. Browse more options in the Asana app gallery.

Jira Cloud

Sync resolved issues from Jira Cloud directly into your release notes workflow. You avoid double entry and give product managers, developers, and stakeholders a shared view of what shipped. Release notes stay accurate because technical fixes flow straight from the source.

GitHub

Link GitHub pull requests or commits to release note entries. You log PR numbers, summaries, and status changes without leaving Asana. Developers and product managers see both the code and the communication side by side.

GitLab

Connect GitLab issues and merge requests to Asana tasks. You capture progress in real time so enhancements, fixes, and new features appear in your release notes as development moves forward. GitLab and Asana stay in sync without extra effort.

Bitbucket

Bring Bitbucket issues into Asana so your team can track technical updates and bug fixes within the same release note template. You keep engineering work tied to communication tasks, which makes it easier to publish notes that users understand.

Unito

Use Unito to sync Asana with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or Azure DevOps. You set up rules to mirror updates automatically, so every change logged in a dev tool appears in your release notes workflow. The integration streamlines collaboration across systems and eliminates the need for manual updates.

FAQs about release note templates